PHYSIOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE
The main body of Epping Forest lies astride the NE-SW trending Epping
Forest Ridge that forms the interfluve between Cobbins Brook to the north and
the Roding to the south (Fig.2). In the Lower Forest (Wintry Wood) the ridge is
at 107m O.D., with the Al 1 trunk road on its crest, rising slightly to 117m near
Ambersbury Banks, but the main road turns south from the Robin Hood Public
House and runs along the crest of the interfluve between the Roding and the
Ching, whilst the main ridge continues through High Beach dropping in height
towards Gilwell Park and Yardley Hill (66m), but rising again at Pole Hill (91m)
overlooking the River Lea. The southernmost portion of the Forest is on the low-
lying nearly level ground of Leyton and Wanstead Flats between about 22 and
15m O.D. Epping Long Green occupies a parallel ridge to the north of Cobbins
Brook, reaching 108m at Epping Green.
The relatively steep-sided Epping Forest Ridge is dissected on its south-east
facing flank by many small streams beginning as springs in the Forest and
flowing eventually to the Roding. The Loughton Brook is one such stream,
which together with its deeply-cut steep-sided tributary valleys drains a sub-
stantial part of the middle Forest. Likewise, the north-western aspect of the
ridge has many small streams draining to Cobbins Brook, but relatively few of
them begin in the Forest proper, which is here much fragmented. Drainage of
the Forest south of The Warren is by the Ching which rises just to the south of
High Beach, flows into Connaught Water where it is joined by Cuckoo Brook,
and thence through Chingford and Highams Park, before turning west to join
the Lea.
Figure 2. Section through Epping Forest Ridge south-west of Epping.
Geological symbols as in Fig. 1.
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